Aligning Classrooms and Commitments

This study analyzed current publications, collaborations, and research trends on the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI), focusing on education harmonization within Southeast Asia. Previous reviews highlighted the need for increased collaboration among ASEAN states but did not explore each country’s progress in education harmonization. A bibliometric analysis evaluated publication and citation patterns, mapped collaborative networks, and identified thematic clusters related to ASEAN integration through education. Keywords such as “ASEAN,” “Education,” and “Harmonization” were used to retrieve English publications from the Web of Science, with analysis conducted via VOSviewer. A total of sixty-two studies from 2000 to 2023 were included. The findings reveal that research on ASEAN education integration has been limited and has declined during the COVID-19 pandemic. More collaborations are observed between Southeast Asian countries, Australia, and the United States, with European countries like Belgium, France, and Germany also showing interest. Key topics include stakeholder partnerships, economic and technological influences on education, and access to education. The study also examined each ASEAN country’s efforts, including state-initiated projects, laws, and partnerships aimed at improving educational institutions and the competencies of teachers and students.